ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — St. John’s city council will form a working group to consider options in switching to LED streetlights downtown.
Council voted unanimously Monday evening to proceed with the plan.
The city will work with various stakeholders to explore options available if choosing to replace the existing decorative globe lights with LED lights.
The working group would recommend whether to replace only the bulbs or the entire fixtures; if applicable, consider esthetic design criteria in new fixtures; and possible cost-sharing opportunities among downtown interests.
Coun. Debbie Hanlon said the current decorative lights used downtown are not very efficient and are costly.
Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary said while there is an aesthetic component to consider, safety is the biggest concern, and LED lights would ensure the downtown is brightly lit.
Coun. Sandy Hickman said he hopes the move is a step toward implementing LED streetlights city-wide.
Mayor Danny Breen said city staff is working with Newfoundland Power on that idea, but there’s a lot involved in the process.
The majority of street lighting in the city is owned and maintained by Newfoundland Power, while the city is a customer and is charged a monthly fee for the service.
City rejects mineral exploration work
St. John’s city council has rejected an application for mineral exploration work for sample prospecting.
The prospecting was proposed on a property located at 2228 Trans-Canada Highway, within the Thomas Pond Watershed.
The watershed’s surface water source has been identified as a potential future drinking water supply for the regional water system.
At the regular Monday evening meeting, council unanimously rejected the application.
“I think this is very important work to be done to keep an eye on potential developments that can happen that can impact our water supply,” said Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary.
A map of the area provided by Department of Natural Resources states the mineral licence belongs to Herb Simms.
